Team India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder has heaped praise on the Chennai-based franchise’s healthy culture of allowing families to be around the players throughout the IPL season.
Dube, who joined the CSK franchise in 2022, has played a pivotal role for the side, propelling them to their fifth IPL title win in 2023. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dube delved into the details of the behind-the-scenes of CSK culture.
“It’s not a big thing. There is no rocket science over there, but CSK keeps it very simple. First of all, when you’re there in the IPL for two months, it’s a long time, and I feel every player and every support staff member needs some family time. So they always allow the family to be with you,” Dube told Hindustan Times.
“When you’re with your family, you’re free and enjoying your time, but then again, when you come to the ground, you’re fresh. This is the thing that they do behind the scenes, and when you come to the ground, they tell you exactly what they want,” he added.
Dube, who also played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in his IPL career, admitted that CSK team management believes in all their players, irrespective of results.
“They have told me on numerous occasions, ‘Shivam, we want this from you. If you try and you succeed, that’s good for you, and then for the team. But if you don’t succeed, it’s totally fine. You have tried your best. That is what we want.’ So that is where it comes from, okay, I get the freedom. If I don’t perform, if I don’t get runs in every match, they believe in me that I have the strength, I can do this,” Dube concluded.
Dube’s best IPL season came in 2023 when he scored his career-best 418 runs in 14 innings at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 158.33 with three half-centuries.
